The "Perfect" Step-Through City Bike. Does It Exist?
I fielded an email query overnight about the Pashley Bicycle line of "English city/Dutch upright" step-through bikes. At 5'4", some women are challenged by the weight of some bikes, and how easy they are to maneuver, not to mention having to lift them up flights of stairs, onto car racks, or onto trains--and I won't get started with airplanes, RVs and boats--well maybe I will a little with option #4 below.
Here's my email response, just now--maybe this helps some folks looking for just "that" bike to meet the needs of the personally mobile person these days.
Here are a few options for upright riding bicycles for you to consider--the last one may seem surprising.
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| Sonnet Bliss Ivory/Claret $1500 |
Pashley Bicycles: The Sonnet Bliss, Princess Sovereign, and Brittania are all $1500, regardless of color choice--with an Ivory option on the Sonnet and Brittania. The Frame Lock feature is included on the Sonnet and Princess--most likely it can be added to the Brittania as they are all the same frame. These bikes vary from 3 speed to 5 speed internal hub mechanisms. I've included pictures of the bikes for your review. As you know, these are lovely bikes still made in the UK, though, a bit heavy as you can attest. A rack could be added to the Brittania, as you surmised, for anywhere from $45-$125 depending upon the rack. Clearly, Pashley is the gold standard by which all other city/countryside bikes are judged, though one should know they're quite heavy being steel bicycles. They are still made in Stradford-upon-Avon in the UK.
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| Brittania Ivory $1500 |
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| Princess Soverign Black $1500 |
Globe Daily Step-Through:
There are two versions, each with fenders and a front metal basket. One is an external rear 7 speed derailleur (white) and the other an internal 3 speed hub mechanism (light blue.) Both are $650 each, in the colors as seen in attached pictures. Neither has a frame lock feature, though this may be able to be added. The bikes come in multiple sizes. They are aluminum bicycles, and therefore would be quite a bit lighter than the Pashley bicycles. Rear racks could be added to this bike for about $40-$60. Globe is a sub-brand of Specialized Bicycle Co. of Morgan Hill, CA.
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| Globe Daily Light Blue 3 Speed $650 |
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| Globe Daily White 7 Speed $650 |
Electra Bicycles: Loft Series:
These bikes are all aluminum as well, therefore they will be lighter and easier to maneuver, to an extent, than the Pashley bikes. They all come in just one size (52cm,) which should work for you as it's quite a low step model--we have some on hand presently at the shop. Prices range from $600 to $715 depending upon model and gear choice. I've stated the models and links below. There are a couple of color choices in each, except the 7i. Most are equipped with a rear rack; adding a frame lock may be possible, but is not an included option. Electra is a CA based company, which is now part of the Trek Bicycle Co. of Waterloo, WI.
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| Brompton '15 M6L Ivory/Racing Green 27.5lbs $1948 |
Brompton Bicycle: Have you heard of this company? They've been around since 1976. A Brompton Bike is a high quality London-made bicycle that rides exceptionally well, and happens to fold ingeniously in 5 simple steps. This has a low step through design which makes it easy to ride, if not easier, than the above mentioned larger wheeled bikes. It has several customizable options including gearing, lighting, color, luggage, and fenders. There are a few handlebar options which will allow for a similar upright riding position as the bikes above. I believe this bike would work well for getting around the city conveniently and quickly--it's quite zippy and nimble with the smaller wheel size--and if you travel and would like to take a bike without car racks, or even on an airplane, then this works. We have bikes on hand for people to test ride.
One of the advantages of a bicycle that folds quite small (23" x 21.5" x 10.6") is that it's easy to take with you wherever you might go, (planes, trains, automobiles, offices), all the while avoiding having to lock it anywhere. It rolls like a suitcase when folded and has a privacy cover when you want to take it indoors. I could go on and on. (If one does need to lock it, there is a nice folding bike lock option that can be mounted to the bike.)
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| Brompton '15 M6L Ivory/Racing Green 28.1lbs $2177 |
I thought I'd include this an option to consider--in our time of personal mobility, I think it's relevant. The workmanship and materials is on a similar level as the Pashleys, with bicycles starting at $1250--I consider them an heirloom investment, because Brompton will never design anything new that can't be retrofitted to an older bike. We have nearly 30 of these on hand for prospective riders to try before committing--most 3 and 6 speeds, the most common configurations. I've included a Ivory/British Racing Green bicycle that we happen to have on hand presently, though there are several other contrasting colors that would like nice as well; one pic has it w/ a front bag and privacy cover, the other without. Bike weight of this configuration is 27.5lbs, which is inline w/ the Globe and Electra, and lighter than Pashley.
The company's website is here: http://brompton.com/
This link is to a bike builder tool, allowing one to see the bike as it will be: http://bikebuilder.brompton.com/
Please let me know how else I can assist in finding the right bike for you.
--Jeff Palter, Owner, Cycle Loft www.cycleloft.com
